Amazing architecture

From European Voice's Entre-Nous column

4/30/13, 8:10 PM CET

Updated 4/23/14, 9:27 PM CET

EU awards architecture prize to Iceland.

The recipient of the European Union’s 2013 prize for contemporary architecture was announced on Monday (29 April). The prize went to an architectural practice with its headquarters in Copenhagen – Henning Larsen Architects – which is what you might expect, given Denmark’s reputation for stylish design. But the building that actually won the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award 2013 is the Reykjavik concert hall and conference centre. Yes, that is right: Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, the country whose general election results had been announced the previous day. Those results, with Eurosceptic parties in the ascendant, showed that Iceland will not be joining the EU anytime soon. The EU may like designs on Iceland, but Iceland has no designs on the EU.